Hi Charlotte. Thank you for joining me today at the campfire. What’s your preference, coffee, tea, cocoa, or wine?  
Coffee till we reach a non-judgmental time to open the wine.

I'll let you in on a secret. Happy hour starts earlier when you're camping. But in keeping with social conventions the coffee pot is always on. Now, tell us have you ever camped, or as I call what I do, Glamp. 
Hard no to regular camping though I love to travel via car or train. My life of outdoor adventures so far has consisted of getting lost in snowy woods with my best friend when we were ten, numerous nature walks and hikes resulting in numerous incidents of hornet, wasp and bee stings and allergic mosquito bite reactions. Even the beach, which I adore, has its dangers. I came home from Jones Beach as a teenager with not only sunburn but poison ivy. Who knew a New York girl could be such a fragile flower? I do have a plan to drive along the east coast to favorite coastal towns from Maine through Key West staying in B & B’s along the way. Wish me luck with the wildlife I’ll encounter.

Hey NY girl, I'm a Brooklyn native. But wow. You and the outside need to foster a better relationship. We actually are planning on doing the Maine to Connecticut coast this fall. Maybe I'll see you. Can you tell us about your latest project? What’s the title and genre?
It will be my first indie so I’m on quite the learning curve at the moment. It’s called My Only One and it’s romantic suspense.

Do you have a tagline for your book?
Time’s running out for Esme to pay her father’s debt to the cartel
My author tagline is Happily ever after in the City of Dreams  

How long did it take you from conception to publication?
I have four books published right now and two with my editor at The Wild Rose Press.

You're quite prolific so I'd suppose you have something you're itching to get to. 
I’m so excited about my indie series. The first book of a projected seven book series is a romantic suspense but the theme of the series is a NYC family of nine (including parents) and how they live life and find love. I plan to self-pub the first title My Only One this year.

I'm looking forward now to adding them to my TBR list. Often writing can feel like a solo affair but sometime we need others. Are there any mentors, authors, or books, you would like to give a shout-out to?
I read voraciously and am constantly inspired by the talented authors I encounter through their work. A few clunkers here and there give me the idea of what not to do. I have read and reread Stephen King’s On Writing as well as every craft book I can get my hands on. One of my favorite things about this business is that I’m always learning.

Charlotte, what does literary success look like to you?
I’m living it. The idea that a complete stranger will read a book of mine and be entertained is the ultimate.

Life Hacks for Authors. Do you have any tips, tricks or anything you specialize in that you would like to share with us?  
Though I’m published, I consider myself a student more than a teacher of anything. I strive to read, write and meditate every day.

Now for the fun insight questions

1. Do you have a special object like a piece of jewelry or keepsake of some sort? Can you tell us what makes it special to you? I cherish my father’s wedding ring. He was a true romantic, athletic, musical, a great cook and provider. We grew up with nothing but I never realized it till much later.
2. If you could only choose one song to play every time you walked into a room for the rest of your life, what would it be? New York, New York Frank Sinatra
3. What weird talent do you have? I can make a meal out of anything in the fridge. I could go on Chopped. Is that a talent or just being a mom?
4. If you could time travel, where would you go and when? Why? One hundred percent I would go back to Revolutionary War era. I can’t imagine anything more exciting being a part of the beginning of our nation.​
5. Most campers play board games. What games do you like? I LOVE board games especially in front of a roaring fire on a rainy day. Puzzles of any kind but especially Liberty wooden puzzles, Scrabble, Headbands (more of a drinking game), Charades.
6. Who is the most interesting person you’ve met and talked with? My husband. We started our conversation many years ago and I hope we go out like in The Notebook minus the Alzheimer’s.

Once again thank you, Charlotte for being with us today. If you could,  would you please leave information on your books and where we can find out more about you? Oh, and I hear you brought a recipe for us.

​
​
Their No-Strings Affair
 
Honey packs everything she owns and heads to NYC to jumpstart her art career. Her cheating boyfriend is history, and she finally acknowledges the truth of her mother's mantra: Careers are forever and happily ever after isn't in their DNA.

All she needs is a job and a place to live. What she doesn't need is a taciturn, sexy, ballbuster but she's woman enough to know the difference between need and want. Isn't she?

Jake's childhood was marred by tragedy and his future hijacked to a promise born of guilt. His failure drove him to a career as a SEAL and a security expert.
But it's not enough. Now he'll give up his freedom in reparation for the life he lost. Honey may be the last sweet stop on the road to a joyless future. If it's what they both want, where's the harm in a no-strings affair?
www.amazon.com/Their-No-Strings-Affair-City-Dreams-ebook/dp/B07QLJP5J7

Recipe for the Campfire
Quick and Tasty Shrimp (feeds 3-4 ppl I usually add a salad and another veg option to complete the meal)
1 bag frozen, raw shrimp (I use Trader Joe’s)
1 bottle Beer (anything with some bite, not sweet)
Old Bay seasoning
Olive Oil
1 can cannellini or white beans
Fresh, rinsed spinach as much as you like because it cooks down.
Heat griddle, cast iron or shallow pan. Add Old Bay and olive oil.
When pan is hot add partially thawed shrimp. Season shrimp again with Old Bay.
Stir it around and about five minutes in add half bottle beer.
Add drained cannellini beans and the rest of the beer. Continue cooking  and stirring another five minutes.
Add spinach which will start wilting right away. Continue to stir when liquid is absorbed and shrimp is well cooked remove from heat— about three minutes.

I have to tell you, I'm excited. Today's guest and I go way back in our writing careers. Rosalie and I met through the RWA author critique program. We hit it off and then began not only  became regular critique partners but pen-pals. She lives on one coast and I on the other, but virtually we're only an internet connection away. I can't wait for you all to meet her. So, let's set the mood. Grab a cuppa something delicious. Light a candle or use the ambient noise app on your phone to dial up a campfire. Take a deep breath. Let your worries go for a few moments. It's all okay at the campfire. This is what camping is all about. Connecting on a different level. Now, doesn't that feel better?

This is campfire is going to be a little different. Today I’m welcoming a special character Beaumont Laroche as well as Author, Rosalie, to the Campfire. What’s your preference, coffee, tea, cocoa, or wine? 
Beaumont leans forward in the chair, places his elbows on his knees, and smiles. A lock of his dark hair caresses his chin and the fire reflects in his deep brown eyes. “A good, dark cup of coffee, the hotter the better.”
Rosalie clears her throat then holds up her mug. “I prefer herbal tea and an occasional glass of red wine.”

Both beverages coming up. Now, I know Rosalie is a camper. How about you Beaumont? Ever spend the night outside for fun?
“Camping?” Beaumont wipes his palm over the stubble on his chin and leans back in his chair. His gaze tracks to the fire, and lines form in his handsome features. “I live at the University of Chicago. As a Gargoyle Night Guardian, I don’t have time for camping. My days are spent locked away in my stone form atop Stuart Hall. At night,” his gaze flicks to Donna, “I roam the streets, protecting humans from dark fae.”
A smile curls his lip, and a soft chuckle eases from him. “But, I remember many a time from my youth, back in the twelfth century, when my brother and I would sneak out of the castle at night to lay in the open grass and stare at the stars. Is that close enough?”
“Twelfth century… Uh, about that.” Rosalie glances at Donna, a chagrinned smile on her face. “Beaumont has a questionable soul and Rhiannon, a goddess of the Otherworld, thought he deserved a second chance. So upon his death, she threw his soul into a gargoyle. He’s one of her warriors and a fine one at that, I might add.”
Beaumont sits up, his shoulders straight, a gleam in his dark eyes. “I have the best fae kill record around. Ask any of my partners.”
“Well, as far as camping goes,” Rosalie takes a sip of tea. “I love to camp. A trailer is a must because I need a comfy bed at night. I’ve spent a lot of nights camping in the beautiful mountains of the Pacific Northwest. Love the large evergreens, but even more so, the waterfalls. There’s just something about the beautiful cascade, the roar of the water, and the cool spray on your skin. If you haven’t been there, yet, Donna, come out and visit me sometime.”
 
I have a retirement countdown in my phone. In a little over a year and two months. Our plan is to do a coast to coast. Don't be surprised if I show up on your doorstep. Tell us about your story. What’s the title and genre?
Beaumont’s story is titled Heart Bandit, book 1 in the Gargoyle Night Guardians series. It’s a steamy paranormal romance featuring a crafty and swift pickpocket who steals Beaumont’s spirit stone, sending them on an epic journey of life and death.

Sounds so intriguing. I can't wait to read it.  Do you have a tagline?
Never steal from a gargoyle…or challenge him to seduce you.

I'll make a note of that. What not to do. Rosalie, where did you get the idea for Heart Bandit?
“Good question, Donna.” Rosalie laughs. “The idea came to me about writing a gargoyle book because I wanted to create a series with a different kind of mythology. One that’s a bit unique and different. After some research, the story evolved into an enemies to lovers story featuring a tough gargoyle and a feisty pickpocket. Needless to say, the sparks flew from the moment they met.”
 
Beaumont, did you evolve from Rosalie’s initial plan? How did you reveal yourself.
Beaumont rubs his chin, a delightful smile playing on his lips. “I spoke to her in French. Seems she has a thing for French men. After that, she claimed me as her first hero, and I’m ever so happy she did.”
 
Tell us about the first reactions to the lead counterpart. Rosalie, where did he/she come from? Is it a previous character that needed a story?
Rosalie shakes her head. “Sadie is a streetwise thief who learned from the best mentor ever—need. She came from a broken family and ended up on the streets in her teens. She’s a new character that just kind of pushed her way into the story. Sassy and full of spunk, she’s tough to handle, as Beaumont can attest.”
Beaumont nods. “Qui, Sadie is spunky and a whole lot more.”
 
Beaumont what was you first impression of Sadie?
Beaumont exhales long and slow. “Zut Alors. From the moment I saw her traipse down the alley, she caught my eye. The light played along her short, silken hair, the color of the midnight sky without stars, painting them with a touch of fire. My hand twitched with the desire to run my fingers through the soft tresses, feel the silkiness between my fingertips.”
Rosalie slaps her palm to her forehead. “Forgive him, Donna. He can be a bit dramatic at times.”

Il est français. LOL.  Tell us, do either of you believe in Soul Mates?
Beaumont glances at Rosalie. Both shrug. Neither offer up an answer, but the glimmer in Beaumont’s eyes and the smile on Rosalie’s face is explanation enough.
Are there any mentors, authors, or books, other than yours, you would like to give a shout-out to?
Rosalie nods. “Ooh, so many, I’m not sure where to start. Some of my favorite authors include Laura Thalassa, Tasha Black, C.P. Ryder, Anna Lowe, Michelle Fox, and a whole lot more!”
 
Success means different things to different people and characters. What does it mean to both of you?
Beaumont lifts his palm to Rosalie. “Please, Rosalie, you first.”
Rosalie rolls her eyes. “All right, Beaumont, if you insist. To me, success means sharing my stories of hope with other readers. Maybe even wrenching a tear or two from them. Since I write romance, the books are all about happily ever afters. What’s not to like about that? Okay, Beaumont, your turn.”
A wide smile blooms on Beaumont’s face, accentuating the dimple in his chin. “Killing fae, oh, and winning Sadie’s heart.”

Now the fun questions Since this is a dual interview I’d like to see you both answer.

1. If they made a movie about your life, what would the title be and who would play you? Beaumont – Muscles of steel. Jason Momoa. Rosalie – Wheels Keep on Running – Julia Roberts (ha, in my dreams)
2. Do you have a special object like a piece of jewelry or keepsake of some sort? Can you tell us what makes it special to you? Beaumont – My spark stone because it houses my spirit. Rosalie – My wedding ring, because, well, it’s my wedding ring. J
3. What is your favorite mug or teacup if neither T-shirt with graphic or Meme? Okay, I get it. Rosalie your's is the Messy Bun. I've seen pictures of your very long hair. And Beaumont? Ahh, forget about it.

4.   Years ago, there was a commercial that talked about a “Kodak Moment.” It’s a moment in time you catch in a picture. One you never want to forget. What is yours? Beaumont – When Sadie agreed to become my wife. Rosalie – When I saw my daughter for the first time.
5.  Favorite childhood book? Or writing that inspired you to become an author. Beaumont – It’s been eight hundred years. Sorry, got nothing for you. Rosalie – Tolkien.
6.  If you could only choose one song to play every time you walked into a room for the rest of your life, what would it be? Beaumont – Bad to the Bone. Rosalie – Roam by the B-52s.
7.  What weird talent do you have? Beaumont – I can turn my skin to stone. Rosalie – I can make up characters that can turn their skin to stone.
Hah, you guys crack me up. Thanks for being part of the Campfire. Please leave us information about where we can find out more about you both. 

Heart Bandit 
Never steal from a gargoyle…or challenge him to seduce you.
 
Beaumont prides himself on his stellar fae kill record, but his life is upended when a feisty, human female challenges him to seduce her and steals his spirit-embedded stone. He’s on a quest to save his soul, yet this woman makes him harder than a rock, and for a guy who spends his days encased in granite, that’s saying something.
 
Crafty and swift, Sadie learned to pickpocket from the best mentor ever—need. After she runs across a tall, sexy gargoyle and steals his most valuable possession, she’s up against more than can she handle. As he hunts her down to retrieve his precious stone, he stirs a passion she didn’t know existed…and can’t resist.
 
Gargoyle Night Guardians protect human souls from the evil clutches of dark fae. Be careful, though, gargoyles aren’t your average hero for within each guardian rests a questionable soul, one ripe for redemption and eager to become worthy of what we all crave—love.
 
Excerpt:
“Quiet now. I won’t hurt you.” The man’s whispered words caressed the back of her ear, the deep timbre all too familiar. He was the gargoyle from last night, the one she’d stolen from.
Sadie raked her nails down his arm, scoring the flesh.
“Stop struggling. You’ll only injure yourself.”
Adrenaline gave her that extra shot of energy, and she continued kicking, scratching, and fighting until she couldn’t catch her breath. Unable to keep up the fight any longer, the tension drained from her like a weak battery. She stilled against him.
“That’s better. Like I said, I’m not going to hurt you.”
True to his word, he hadn’t harmed her. Her back was pressed against his muscular chest, and his powerful arms held her in his firm embrace.
“We need to talk about what you stole from me. If I release you, do you promise not to scream?” The rumble in his voice tracked from her sensitive ear all the way down her spine to her bottom, tickling her.
Fat chance, Mr. Muscles. She nodded in agreement.
He removed his hand from her mouth.
On a quick inhale, she started to scream.
Only to have him clamp his palm over her lips and muffle it. With a quick flick of his wrist, he turned her around, pinning one of her arms behind her back, the other trapped between their chests. If she wanted to, she could reach the scrub on his chin.
Hand still pressed to her mouth, he glared at her. “Merde. Somehow, I knew you wouldn’t cooperate. You really are a feisty little thing, aren’t you?”
Those dark brown eyes of his glowed with an eerie green iridescence. She was drawn to their unnatural beauty. He raised one eyebrow, the scar at the edge pulling taut, and when he smiled and revealed his dimples, she just about melted. He was a gorgeous, glorious, good-looking gargoyle, and she hated him for it.
Give him half a chance, he’d use her and abandon her. Forget that. She’d never let him get that close. Helpless in his grasp, she hated the control he had over her. If she could spit in his face, she would.
“Okay, we’re going for round two, pickpocket. When I remove my hand, don’t scream. You won’t like me much if you try that again.” He slowly removed his hand.
She held her tongue for all of two seconds. “I don’t like you much now, and did you cuss at me in French?”
“Oui.” He chuckled, the sound rumbled from his chest into hers.
Against her will, her body responded to him. His nose flared, and the brown of his eyes darkened. With a quick flick, his gaze travelled to her lips.
Oh God, it was if he sensed her arousal.
She drew her tongue over her bottom lip, moistening it.
A needful groan erupted from him, and his grip tightened, tugging her even closer.

To find out more about Rosalie, Beaumont and her other wonderful stories here are the links.
Buy links:
https://www.rosalieredd.com/heart-bandit.html

Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/heart-bandit/id1488649143
B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/heart-bandit-rosalie-redd/1135030405
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/heart-bandit
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B081S85H9D
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B081S85H9D
Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B081S85H9D
Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B081S85H9D
GooglePlay: https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=VhW_DwAAQBAJ
 
Contact links:
Facebook author: https://www.facebook.com/rosaliereddauthor
Goodreads:   https://www.goodreads.com/RosalieRedd
Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/author/rosalieredd
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/rosalie-redd
Website:  http://www.rosalieredd.com

​Happy Saturday and welcome to the campfire. Despite the issues going on around us, let's take a few minutes away from all the craziness and relax. That's what a campfire is for. Turn off the news, silence your phone for a few minutes and step into my world. Grab a beverage of choice. Light a candle and pretend it's your own campfire. Take a deep breath and imagine yourself in the woods. There's a stream bubbling nearby. Smell the smoke and maybe something cooking over the fire. Hear the birds calling to each other. Are you there yet? Good. Now, lift your cup, mug, or glass and help me welcome today's guest, fellow Wild Rose Press author ​Claire Corvey.

Hi Claire, welcome and thank you for joining us today. What’s your preference coffee, tea, cocoa, or wine? 
In the morning, I love coffee, made over the campfire, of course. Evening is for wine!

You're my kind of girl. The coffee is always on at the Campfire. Tell us have you ever camped, or as I call what I do, Glamp?
I’ve camped so many times and have such great memories. Almost always in a tent. I’ve camped with my family in the mountains of Wyoming, Colorado, Montana…and there are bears there! One of my favorite memories is an afternoon in the Snowy Range outside Laramie, Wyoming. I hiked with my children and our dog along a river, not another person in sight. So beautiful. Until the kids pushed each other in the freezing cold water. Let’s just say glamping is starting to look very attractive to me!

Ha! I'll bet it is. Heat and hot showers can never be oversold to me. Now, tell us about your latest project. What’s the title and genre?
I’m working on the second installment of my “High School is Hell” trilogy. It’s a young adult contemporary, with a dollop of romance and a side order of the paranormal.

How long did it take you from conception to publication?
With High School is Hell it was about a year and a half between when I started the first draft and when I was accepted for publication by the Wild Rose Press.

Not bad. It takes me a bit longer to have a finished product. I also have a myriad of projects at various stages of development, how about you? Anything you’re itching to get to?
I always have way too many ideas, and I find it’s more fun to start a project than to slog all the way through! But currently, I’m also working on a collection of my short stories, as well as my novel. And I’ve started a third project, a post-apocalypse story, and I have no idea what that is going to end up being. A novella? A novel? Who knows?

I agree! Starting and meeting new characters and places is exciting. Are there any mentors, authors, or books,  you would like to give a shout-out to?
One of my critique partners, Liz Roadifer (and the whole gang at CAWG—our secret acronym), has been a great mentor and helped my writing grow. And there are so many authors I love…I find Nora Roberts and Stephen King, inspiring. They both put their butts in the chair and write and tell great stories while doing it. Charlaine Harris has an amazing imagination and a way with her words. Kurt Vonnegut has made me a better person. And my secret vice—or pleasure—is poetry. Nizar Qabbani, Rilke. Such beautiful words and images.

Tsk, I'm jealous.  I want to belong to a secret society, too. They are amazing authors. I'm a Stephen King fan.  Claire, tell us, what does literary success look like to you?
Wow—that’s a hard one. I think every author wants respect for one’s body of work, but really, I think success is having someone tell me that my stories have entertained them or brought them the happiness I’ve found in books.

You nailed it. I think most artists hope for the same thing. Now the fun questions, 

1. Favorite childhood book? Or writing that inspired you to become an author.    I loved Little Women, The Secret Garden, The Little Princess, Going on Sixteen, all the Nancy Drew I could get my hands on. Reading was and is the best.
2. If you could only choose one song to play every time you walked into a room for the rest of your life, what would it be?  The intro to “Born to Run.” Or “Even the Losers” by Tom Petty. That might be more appropriate.
3. If you could eat anything in the world right now, what would it be?  High dollar cheese. As the French say, “Smells like the feet of angels.”
4. Would you rather have unlimited international first-class tickets or never have to pay for food at restaurants?  THE TICKETS!!!
5. Did you ever win something? What?  I’ve actually been bizarrely lucky at winning things. I once won $700 at the racetrack when I bet on the wrong horse.

You crack me up. Smelly angel feet? I never heard that. Before you go can you tell us where we can learn more about you and your book?

​Seventeen-year-old Lauren Baker is in a bind. In addition to trying out her cleavage-enhancing bra for the first time, she has to figure out how to expose the new high school principal as evil incarnate. ​




Lauren has enough on her hands. Her best friend is being bullied, she's the newly installed editor of the school newspaper, and to top it all off, she has a secret, massive crush on an older boy. Yet all of this seems like small potatoes when mutilated animals, vandalism, and Lauren's bizarrely realistic dreams indicate something—or someone—is rotten in Rushton.
When Lauren connects the dots between the new principal and the freakish occurrences, she has to act...before she and everyone she loves fall victim to a centuries-old evil.
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07F96SNNX/
https://clairecorveybooks.wordpress.com/

This weeks recipe is courtesy of Claire's Blog. I bet it would work over the fire on a backing sheet as well. I've done this in a non-stick pan on the stove as well.
​
Did you know that if one places cheese on parchment paper and microwaves it for one minute, delicious cheese crisps result?
​